Taksila roots caters to the primary department of the Taksila academy and is built well within the city of Akbarpur. It is a Primary school with Classes from Nursery to 5th Standard. + activity spaces etc. The building is set on one side of the rectilinear plot, leaving a larger chunk on the south for the playfield, tyre park, service block and the vehicular parking. The building is oriented parallel to the main road, with the longer facade towards the south/ south east.

The building is designed as a set of cluster blocks connected by a large flying roof and circulation around a courtyard. Each floor has three clusters of classrooms with activity spaces always facing the courtyard or a terrace. The plinth of the project is free- flowing with open access from all sides and connects all the external spaces like stage, Splash pool etc. The courtyard is flanked by two staircases on either side, in a mirrored position. The round cutouts on each terrace serves the purpose of a simple chajja and also adds to the play of light and shadow. The juxtaposition of these round cutouts opens up diagonal views in the project, adding to the ambience of the inner space.

The roof as a main feature of the project connects all the blocks together and gives a floating character to the school. It acts as an artificial floor used for playing activities of the kids. The roof when experienced from inside, endows a feeling of shade and protection.

The modularity and the exposed RCC structure play a vital role in the visual aesthetics of the project. The school has no air-conditioning. The orientation of the project, cluster formation (thermal mass), courtyard, chajjas and the flying roof result in achieving optimum temperature in the classrooms.This project has integrated BALA elements (Building as a Learning Aid) within the main civil construction the building. Flooring patterns, elements in the walls and corridors have puzzles, games and theorems to stimulate children’s learning environment.

PROGRAM: Conversion of a two bed room apartment to three room Duplex apartment + studio area.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND CONCEPT:

The project transforms a government built, apartment-housing typology to adapt with contemporary needs of the clients. Challenge was to break and insert new spaces within the load bearing structure and without making an extravagant change to the face of the block.

Since byelaws allow to build a temporary structure on the roof, apartment was converted into a duplex with a studio + terrace garden on the roof. The addition of a vertical dimension changes the perspective of the space and adds to the voluminosity of the space.

The spacious living space connects the apartment both laterally and vertically. This space becomes the spine of the apartment and an intersection among the varied functions.

Simple materials were chosen, considering the limited constructional capacity of small time contractors and low budget of the project. The office upstairs has a Metal puff panel roof to to avoid extra load and to remain within the legal bye laws.

PROGRAM: Re-planning and re-building of the service block of Taksila academy, Akbarpur . Block to have space for services like DG set, panels, guard room and a separate area for a possible eatery for students.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND CONCEPT:

The client wanted to re-plan the existing service block and de-clutter , at the entrance of the Taksila academy. The plot juts out of the main entrance area. The challenge was to contain all the requirements within this irregular corner triangular plot and still have two access, one for the service staff and one side for the kids to access the eatery cum shop.

The design approach is straightforward and relies a lot on the site context. Simple materials like bricks, grit plaster are chosen, considering the limited budget of the project and to make the project not stand out. The geometry plays an important role in achieving the architectural solution.

view from the entrance

bird's eye view

view from the entrance

view from the school building

view from the school building

inside the service block

inside the service block

existing site

Bus Terminal Revitalisation (National Competition)

Typology: Bus Terminal Revitalisation (National Competition)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

Time schedule: FEBRUARY 2013

Client: Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation

Design team: shaily gupta (SGA STUDIO) + Henri Fanthome (HFOA)

An National Open Design Competition to reimagine the existing and almost defunct bus terminal in the heart of present day Jaipur.

The design uses vertical segregation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic to arrive at a design where there is minimal crossing of paths of the three major traffic types – pedestrian, local private and public transport, and interstate bus traffic. The ground is treated as large pedestrian plaza that fronts the site, and continues as an edge strip thereby integrating the site into the everyday hustle-bustle and consciousness of the city. Activity specific to Bus travel and support functions are housed in a single terminal building lifted above the plaza, that feeds passengers to the two platform areas through over head or subterranean conduits that bypass the bus causeway and the pedestrian plaza for efficient access. The buses, on two levels are covered with huge tensile roof that shades and protects from rain. To the centre and rear of the site are a hotel and office complex that similarly float over the pedestrian plaza and bus platforms. The façades removes any notion of scale from the outside by a carefully designed repetition of single unit.

The project’s credit is in thinking that the transport functionality of a city can be greatly improved through one approach – smart de-cluttering.

http://www.archello.com/en/project/isbt-jaipur-design-competition

STEPPING STONES

A play for children and families

Stage design with Shena Gamat, 2018

WRITER:- MIKE KENNY

DIRECTOR- SHENA GAMAT

PRODUCTIONS- YELLOWCAT THEATRE CO.

Stepping Stones is an exciting performance specially crafted for viewing by 6-9 year olds and their families. It is grounded in the principles of theatre-in-education, and blends high quality theatre with opportunities for learning about the self and the world.

Stage design was an outcome of discussions with the director . It is designed as a traverse stage with the possibility of easy transport and flexibility to adapt to varied performance spaces. Stepping Stones has been designed such that it can be performed almost anywhere - a large room or hall or a small stage. This is a deliberate creative decision so that the play can be brought to its audience, and not the other way round.

Tilchattey Ki Diary

Stage design for this play for children, 2017

WRITTEN by- Rahul Rai

DIRECTOR- Sukhesh Arora

PRODUCTIONS- YELLOWCAT THEATRE CO.

Revolving around the theme of climate change, the objective of the play is to stimulate the youth to think proactively and come up with workable solutions to real-world problems.

The play has grown out of a unique and intense process of collaboration. It is a story without a hero or heroine or a villain. It has two cockroaches, one chicken, a farmer, a young girl and two boys who are both subjects and objects- they act and are acted upon. None of them comes out a winner but all of them are losers to some degree. This unique theatre-in-education performance narrates the tale of people and other beings whose lives are affected in one way or another.